SHIRLEY BASSEY - Shirley (1961-1997) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Shirley Bassey's second album for EMI/Columbia is something of a letdown after her debut, The Fabulous Shirley Bassey. Producer Norman Newell again employs the services of Geoff Love & His Orchestra, who provide rather thick-textured accompaniment that sometimes seems out of sync with the singer's full abilities, which never get used on this LP. Bassey's singing is assured and rich-toned, whether she's doing straight pop or bluesy torch ballads like "For Every Man There's a Woman," and she does plumb some unexpected depths of emotion in a slow, impassioned "I'm in the Mood for Love," on which the orchestra is a little too busy for the good of the singer or the song. Love's accompaniments throughout are rather problematic -- the bandleader evidently favored the use of bongos on some of this repertory, but, as with all instruments with the least bit of exoticism, a little bongos go a long way. Generally, Bassey seems less comfortable with both the songs and the arrangements on this album than she did on her debut, although she does have a few beautiful moments here. This was reissued at the end of the 1990s as part of EMI's anniversary series in 24-bit sound. by Bruce Eder  
Tracklist:
1 In the Still of the Night 3:17
Cole Porter
2 Let There Be Love 3:10
Ian Grant / Lionel Rand
3 All at Once 3:30
4 For Every Man There's a Woman 3:51
Harold Arlen / Leo Robin
5 I'm in the Mood for Love 3:20
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
6 So in Love 3:01
Cole Porter
7 If I Were a Bell 2:50
Frank Loesser
8 There Will Never Be Another You 4:20
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
9 Hooray for Love 3:09
Harold Arlen / Leo Robin
10 Too Late Now 3:37
Burton Lane / Alan Jay Lerner
11 I'm Shooting High 1:31
Ted Koehler / Jimmy McHugh
12 Ev'rrtey Time We Say Goodbye 5:13
Cole Porter
Credits:
Shirley Bassey, Vocals with
Geoff Love and his Orchestra